Inhalator



Nov. s, 1938. w, c, ROE ET AL 2,136,085

INHALATOR Filed Oct. 19, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fly. 9 R I INVENTORS, mm Zid, Mayo [5. Hoe

Nov. 8, 1938/ w. c. ROE ET AL INHALATOR Filed 001;. 19, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Wr/lmm C Poe, INVENTORS,

0714 Mayo E. Foe. v

Patented Nov. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PAl ENT OFFICE INHALATOE a corporation of Ohio Application mm 19, 19st, Serial at. 10am zomm. This invention relates to inhalator apparatus and particularly to inhalator apparatus of the class in which medicated vapor inhalants are produced by heat.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide:

An improved inhalator apparatus generally.

An inhalator apparatus having an improved means for electrically heating liquid and the like to be vaporized.

An inhalator apparatus having an improved electric heater and electric controls therefor.

An inhalator apparatus havlngan improved inhalant liquid reservoir and mounting there-v for.

In an inhalator apparatus, improved means for mounting a vapor inhalant conduit in association with a vapor producing means.

An inhalator apparatus having an improved parts enclosing housing and improved means for manually transporting the same.

An inhalator apparatus having a liquid vaporizing means and a liquid reservoir and improved means for controlling the supplying of liquid from the reservoir to the vaporizing means.

Qther objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which our invention appertains. Our invention is fully disclosed in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view with parts broken away of an embodiment of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken from the plane 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view from below of the embodiment of Fig. 1

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the plane 5 of Fig. 4 and to a larger scale;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View taken from the plane 6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view.taken from the plane I of Fig. 4 and to a larger scale;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view partly in section, taken from the plane 8 of Fig. 4 and rotated through 90 for clearness;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in section, showing separately an element of Fig. l, the view being taken approximately from the plane 9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a. diagrammatic view illustrating circuit connections and the mode of operation thereof embodied in the apparatus of the foregoing figures.

Fig.'11 is a view similar to a part of Fig. 1 illustrating a modification;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the plane l2-l2 of Fig. 11;

. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the plane il-il of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the parts of Fig. 11;

Fig. 15 is a view illustrating a modification of a conduit nozzle illustrated in Fig. 1; and- Flg. 16 is a fragmentary view similar to a. part of Fig. 13 but illustrating a modification.

Referring to the drawings we have shown generally at i a housing which in the preferred form illustratedis downwardly open and made from sheet metal and comprises side walls 2-2 and front and rear walls 3 and 4 respectively, the housing having a flat top 5.

A pair of receptacles preferably of sheet metal 6 and l depend into the housing from the top 5 being spaced from the lower edge of the housing and opening upwardly through the top 5, the top being provided with large perforations 8 and 9 for this purpose.

Surrounding the perforations 8 and 9 and extending upwardly from the top 5 are collars or At their lower ends, the receptacles 6 and I are connected by an inclined pipe i3. The flanges III and H being of larger diameter than the perforations 8 and 9, provide shoulders it and i5 at the open ends of the receptacles. An annular packing of rubber or the like i6 is fitted within the flange in resting upon the shoulder H. A liquid reservoir i! of inverted bottle formprojects at the month end i8 thereof into the receptacle 6 and is seated upon the packing i6.

A small readily removable cup IQ for medicine to be evaporated into inhalant is suspended in the upper end of the receptacle 1, the cup I 9 preferably being made from sheet metal and having arms 20-29 extending laterally thereof and resting upon the shoulder i5.

An electric heater shown generally at 2| is mounted upon the outer bottom surface of the receptacle 'l,-loy the following means. The receptacle 1 preferably has a recess 22 press formed therein of circular. form and the heater 2| is preferably in the form of a disc or annulus unit seated in the recess. Studs 2323 are secured to the outer wall of the receptacle 1 and project in parallel relation downwardly at opposite sides thereof. A disc or sheet 24 of asbestos or other heat resisting insulation is laid upon the lower surface of the heater 2i. A strip of metal 25 is laid on the insulation 24 and telescoped by suitable perforations over the studs 23-23. A terminal panel 26 of insulating material has secured to opposite ends thereof bracket pieces 21-41 or Z-form one foot of the 2 being secured to the panel 26 bya bolt 28 and the other foot 29 of the Z being telescoped, by a suitable perforation therein, over the stud 22. Wing nuts 25-25 on the studs 22-22 clamp the brackets 21, metal strip 25 and insulation sheet 24 all rigidly on the bottom of the receptacle 1 with the heating element 2| pressed firmly against the receptacle.

The insulation sheet 24 is preferably relatively thick and except for a cutaway portion 2! embracing the heater terminals 22, 22 and 24, entirely covers the heating unit and prevents undue radiation or conduction of heat outwardly away from it, and the, metal strip 25 securely holds the insulation sheet 24 on the heater.

By means of the Z-form brackets 21-21, the panel 25 is rigidly mounted on and is spaced away from the bottom of the receptacle 5 and from the heater 2|.

The heater 2| is preferably of the two-stage type, that is to say, has two heating elements therein having external terminals 22, 22 and 24. The internal construction of the heater is not essential to the present invention and may be a commercial well known form.

Tire panel 25 has thereon terminal posts 25, 25 and 21 to which the heater terminals are connected by connectors 25, 25 and 45.

A bracket 4| of sheet metal is rigidly secured to the bottom of the receptacle 1, for example, as by rivets 42-42 in spaced relation to the heater 2| and extends laterally from the receptacle preferably in a substantially horizontal plane. The bracket 4| constitutes the base and support of a thermal release device now to be described. A sheet metal arm 42 is secured to the bracket 4| at 44 and has a portion 45 spaced from and generally parallel to the bracket 4|. A stem 45 has a reduced diameter portion 41 extending through the bracket 4| and threaded to receive a nut 45 to rigidly mount the stem 45 on the bracket.

A toothed wheel. 49 is rotatably mounted on the stem 45 but normally is rigidly secured thereto by solder. As will be understood, when heat from the receptacle 1 conducted through the bracket 4| and to the wheel 45 heats it to a predetermined maximum temperature, the solder will be melted and the notched wheel 49 may turn for a purpose described; and at a lower tem- 'perature, the solder will solidify and prevent rotation of the wheel. Y

The front wall 2 has a perforation therein through which extends inwardly the shank 52 of a reset knob 54. The knob at its inner end is connected to a strip of metal 55 rectangular in cross section, the inner end of which has a loop 55 formed thereon, the end of the loop 51 constituting a pawl engaging the teeth of the wheel 49, the loop 55 being disposed between the arm 45 and the bracket 4|. In the intermediate portion of the strip 55, it is offset as at 55 and a tension spring 59 is hooked into the strip inwardly beyond the oifset portion 55, the opposite end of the spring being hooked into the leg 55 of a U-shaped bracket, the opposite leg 5| of which is riveted or screwed to the front wall 2 of the housing at 52. The upper end of. the leg 55 of the U-shaped bracket 52 is slitted as at 54, the slit straddling the strip 55 to guide the same longitudinally and prevent rotational or twisting movement thereof.

The spring 59 by means of its offset attachment to the strip 55 holds the pawl 51 toward the wheel 49 and into engagement with the teeth thereof and also constantly exerts a forward pull on the pawl and wheel. when the wheel 2,1se,oss

45 is released by. heat, as above described, the strip 55 will be given a forward released movement by the spring 55 for the purpose of operating an electric switch to be described, and during the forward movement of the strip 55, the wheel 45'rollingly supports and guides the pawl end thereof in the nature of a roller bearing also after the wheel 45 has again been locked against rotation by oongealing of the solder, the reset knob 54 may be pushed inwardly extending the spring 55 and again engaging the pawl 51 with the teeth of the wheel.

n the inner side of the front wall 2 and immediately under the bracket 52, is mounted the base 55 of a commercial lamp. The bulb proper of the lamp shown in dotted limes at 55 is on the outer side of the wall 2 and covered by a perforated protecting shell 51. On each side of the block-like base which is, as is well known, made preferably from insulating material, terminal screws 55 and 55 are provided which will energize the lamp when current supply mains are attached thereto in the usual manner. In the use which we make of such lamp base, we secure on the base by the screws 55 and 59, sheet metal pieces 15 and 1| comprising uprights 12 and 12.

On each side of the lamp base 55 are mounted switch housings 14 and 15. These are preferably of commercial form and of the single pole tumbler type, and having on the outside of the front wall 2 switch operating levers 15 and 11.

These switches as well as the lamp housing 55 are well known commercially and are of such form that they may be mounted upon a sheet metal panel such as the front wall 2 as illustrated and it is believed that no further description herein is necessary.

A pair of switch arms 15 and 19 are provided made from sheet metal strip, the arm 15 being rigid and riveted as at 55 to the upper end of the upright 12 and extending therebeyond and being secured under the terminal screw of the switch 14, the other terminal screw 52 there-' of being connected to a wire 52.

The switch arm 19 is resilient and is similarly riveted as at 54 to the upper end of the upright 12 and extends therebeyond and is secured under one screw 55 of the switch 15, the other screw 55 thereof being connected to a wire 51. The

screw 55 is also connected to a wire 55. The switch arms and 19 overlap each other at their inner ends and have thereon confronting contacts 59 and 95 and the resilience of the arm 19 tends to normally engage its contact with that of the arm 15. The arm 19 is furthermore longer than the arm 15, bridging the greater part of the distance betewen the uprights 12 and 12.

The shank 52 of the release knob 54 has thereon a depending arm 9| of insulating material disposed behind the switch arm 19. When the knob 54 is pushed inwardly to set the thermal release above described, it frees the resilient switch arm 19 and allows it to engage its contact 95 with the contact 59 and they are allowed to remain engaged by the thermal latch 51-49 above described which, as will now be understood, holds the depending arm 9| rearwardly free from the resilient arm 19. The contacts will be engaged before the release pawl engages the wheel 49 so that the contacts will be engaged by the full pressure supplied by the resilient arm 19.

One element of the heater has terminals 22-42 connected to the posts 55 and 55; the other heater element has terminals 52 and 24 connected to the posts 33 and 31. The post 30 is connected to a line wire II; the other line wire 03 is connected to the terminal of the switch 14. The wire 31 is connected to' post 35 and the wire 08 to post 31. By this arrangement when switch 14 is open current is cut of! from the apparatus. When switch 14 is closed and switch 15 open, current flows from line wire 83 through switch 14 to wire 03 and thence through the heater element between the posts 34 and 33 and then to line wire Hi. When the switch 15 is also closed, the same circuit is maintained and another circuit is made from terminal 85 of switch 15 through the switch toterminal 86 and thence by wire 81 through the heater element between posts 32 and 33 and thence to line wire Ill.

lhus either one heater or both in parallel may be energized; and in either case, all of the current goes through the short circuit around the lamp 08 provided at the switch contacts 89 and 90. Also as will now be apparent if the contacts are opened, the lamp 66 will be placed in series with the heater elements, one orboth as the case may be.

This not only illuminates the lamp as a signal, but also by inserting the high lamp resistance in the heater circuits, reduces the heating thereof. Heat is thus maintained at the receptacle 1 so that when liquid is again supplied thereto, and the release device reset and the full heat restored, vaporization of liquid will again begin promptly. Preferably the resistance of the lamp is relatively high compared to the heater elements so that when the lamp is inserted in the heater circuit the current traversing the circuit will be substantially reduced to correspondingly reduce the heating effect of the heating elements to a very low value.

The lamp shield 61, release knob 54 and switch levers 16 and-11 are all preferably projected outwardly through a plate 92 mounted on the outer face of the front wall 3 to give the apparatus a neat appearance, the plate being secured to the front wall by screws 9393.

A dome 94 provided with a peripheral portion 95 adapted to fit in the flange I I above the receptacle 1 has secured at its upper central portion a conduit 96 which is preferably of the spiral armored type provided with a nozzle I14 at the outer end out of which inhalant will be discharged in a manner to be described. A collar 91 is provided at the juncture of the conduit 96 with the dome 94 providing a shoulder 98.

Upon the top surface 5 of the housing and between-the two flanges I and II is mounted a bracket 99 having a threaded nut I00 secured thereto. A long rod IN is threaded at its lower end to the nut I00 and at its upper end has a hand wheel I02 thereon.

A tube I03 is telescoped over the rod between the nut I00 and the hand wheel I02 and in the lower portion thereof adjacent the bracket 99 has an arm integral therewith extending laterally therefrom as at I04 terminating at its outer end in a U-form hook I adapted to embrace the conduit 96 and rest on the upper side of the shoulder 99.

Above the arm I04 is another arm' I06 extending in the opposite direction therefrom also in.- tegral with or integrally secured to the tube I03 and having mounted at its outer end a rubber or like cushioning pad I01 adapted to be engaged with the bottom of the inverted bottle I1 above referred to.

By turning the hand wheel I02, a shoulder I08 on the hand wheel will engage the upper end of the tube I03 and the pad I01 and hook I00 will both be clamped downwardly one upon the bottle and the other upon the dome collar 91 to secure the same respectively upon the housing and over the receptacles 6 and 1.

The tube I03 may be provided with a third arm I09 extending laterally therefrom and then upwardly as at H0 and provided at its upper end with a handle substantially over the center of the apparatus whereby it may be transported from place to place.

It will, of course, be understood that by loosen-' ing the hand wheel I 02, the hook I05 and pad I01 will both be released and the tube I09 may then be rotated on the rod IN to displace the pad I01 and hook I05 from their positions over the apparatus whereby the bottle may be removed to give access to the interior of the receptacle 6 or to replace an empty bottle with a full one; and whereby the dome 94 and conduit 98 may be removed to give access to the interior of the receptacle 1.

For purposes to be described, we may in some cases provide in the bottom of the receptacle 0 a cup or hollow cylinder II! of sheet metal having fingers I I3I I3 extending laterally therefrom to center it in the receptacle 9.

In the general operation of the apparatus above described, inhalant medicine is placed in the cup I 9. A bottle I1 of water is then placed in inverted position as illustrated and seated on the packing I6 and water therefrom will flow downwardly into the receptacle 6 and out of the receptacle 6 through the conduit I3 into the receptacle 1 until the level in the receptacle reaches the neck I8 of the bottle.

The switch lever 16 is then operated to close the electric circuit and current flows through one or both of the heating elements of the heater 2| according to the position of the switch 11 and heats the liquid in the receptacle 1. Vapor is thus formed which passes upwardly over and around the cup i9 heating the same and vaporizing the medicine therein, and the medicated vapor thus formed passes upwardly and out through the con-. duit 96 where it may be applied in a well known manner. Air will enter through the perforations I2--I2 to maintain a free flow and to dilute the inhalant, and to lower its temperature. As this process goes on it will be noted that the medicine vapor rising out of the cup I9 and being at the center of the rising column of vapor diffuses into the water vapor from the inside outwardly, and the air entering from the outside diffuses into the vapor from the outside inwardly. The maximum of uniformity of the mixture and constancy of temperature of the inhalant vapor results.

The evaporation of water in the receptacle 1 causes the level thereof to fall and when it reaches the end of the conduit I3 opening into the receptacle 6, the release of air into receptacle 8 will cause water to flow from the receptacle 3 through the conduit I3 into the receptacle 1 to restore the level therein. The water in the receptacle 1 is thus automatically kept at substantially constant level and because it is kept at a constant level, it is possible to utilize only a shallow depth of water in the heating receptacle 1. The rate of generation of steam and the temperature thereof are therefore kept constant.

If the supply of water should become exhausted, all of the water will be evaporated out of the receptacle 1 and then the temperature of the receptacle will rise to an excess value and the heat thereof will be conducted therefrom along the bracket 4i and will release the toothed wheel 49 whereupon the spring 50 will retract the pawl 51 and the arm 9| will move the resilient switch arm I9 forwardly and withdraw its contact .0 from engagement with the contact 8!. Due to the spring t2. the contacts will be separated with a snap action. As will be observed, the uprights II and II connected to the terminal screws 08 and 69 of the lamp and the switch arms I. and I! when their contacts are engaged, form a short circuit around the lamp but when the contacts are disengaged as above mentioned, the lamp is inserted in the circuit in series with the heating elements of the heater 2I and the lamp will be illuminated, and will function as a signal that the water supply is exhausted so that an attendant may operate the switch arm I6 to turn 03 the current from the heater, or may replenish the supply of water. The supply of water in the bottle I! is visible and when the water therein falls below the visible level, the empty bottle may be replaced with a filled bottle. The quantity of water in the receptacle 8 will be sufficient to continue the supply to the heating receptacle I while the bottle is being changed. Thus there will be no interruption of the vapor flow.

By arranging the conduit II on an inclination upwardly into the receptacle 1, the sudden rush of water therethrough into the receptacle 1, when the flow takes place, will prevent or greatly reduce the swirling of water in the receptacle I which we have found will occur if water from a conduit such as the conduit I3 is supplied directly inwardly or radially to the receptacle I, and thus the heating of the water in the receptacle I and the vaporization thereof will be more uniform because of the inclination of the conduit I3. The inclination of the conduit I3 furthermore prevents a back flow of hot water into the supply receptacle 6.

Also we have found that the discharge of water from the bottle I'I into the receptacle 6 tends to cause the water to be forced in violent impulses through the conduit I3 and we have found that this may be prevented by providing a baflle or bailles in the bottom of the receptacle 6 adjacent the inner end of the conduit I3; and we have found that a baille in the form of the cup II2 above referred to will function efficiently to prevent such surges of water through the conduit I8.

Thus, by the joint and several actions of the inclined conduit I 3 and the cup-form bafiie II 2, when the syphoning action occurs, water will be supplied to the receptacle I in uniform increments with the minimum of agitation and maintained therein at a substantially constant depth, and therefore the vaporization of water in the receptacle "I will take place substantially continuously and uniformly from the start until the entire contents of the bottle I! have been vaporized.

In the operation of the apparatus above described, medicatedvapor inhalant flows through the conduit 96 and is discharged from the nozzle I" and due to the flexibility of the conduit may be directed, as desired. The inhalant, being vapor, will condense in small quantities thereof on the inside of the conduit 96 and will flow backward by gravity. To prevent such condensation from falling from the inner end of the conduit into the medicine cup I9, which as preferred, is disposed centrally under the conduit 86, the following means is provided. An inverted hollow cone-shaped sheet metal shed H5 is supported on the dome 94 over the cup II. The shed III is detachably secured to the dome by a U-form upwardly open resilient clip I It secured at its closed end to the apex of the shed II! and formed so that when it is telescoped into the lower end of the conduit It as shown in Fig. 2, it will wedgingly engage the conduit wall and support the shed III centrally of the conduit. The vaporized medicine rising out of the cup I! will flow outwardly radially and around the lower edge of the shed I I 5 and thence mingled with the water vapor and the air as above described will flow upwardly over the shed Ill and Into the conduit 96; and in order to insure that there will be a flow passageway above the shed III, a spacing element III is provided at the top of the shed II5, preferably in the form of a transverse strip having upwardly extending prongs Ill engageable at their upper ends with the dome N. Preferably the. clip III, spacing elements I" and the apex of the cone-shaped shed l II are all secured together by a rivet I I0.

As shown in Fig. l, the nozzle I'll may be a tube of fibre, hard rubber or metal or the like of a convenient length to insure the directing of the medicated vapor in the desired direction. In Fig. 15 is shown another form of nozzle which is telescopable to adjust the length thereof. This nozzle consists of an outer tube I2. secured to the conduit '96 and an inner tube I2I telescopable therein. To prevent completely withdrawing the inner tube I2I or outwardly telescoping it too far, any suitable means may be provided. As shown in Fig. 15, a preferred means comprises a transverse bar I22 in the inner end portion of the tube I20 and a like transverse bar I23 in the inner end of the inner tube I2I, the bars having aligned perforations therein and a wire I24 in the aligned perforations having heads I2ll2i formed on the opposite ends thereof. When the inner tube I2I is withdrawn to a predetermined distance, the heads I25 will be engaged with the bars I22 and I23 and stop further outward telescoping movement. when this arrangement is used, the conduit 08 may be of relatively short length in the flexible portion thereof.

In Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive is illustrated another form of mechanism for detachably mounting the bottle II and dome 94 in working position. In this form, the receptacles 6 and I have at their upper ends, portions of enlarged diameter I2. and I2! whereby the receptacles may rest and be supported upon the sheet metal top I28 of the main housing.

The dome indicated in this form at I 2! has a relatively shallow depending flange I30 peripherally thereof resting upon the upper rolled edge of the portion I 21. The bottle Il rests upon a sealing packing I" which is preferably of circular cross section for convenience of manufacture lodged on the inside of the enlarged diameter portion I26.

A reinforcing plate III is provided on the inside of the top I28 and a pair of vertical posts I32I4I are secured in forwardly and rearwardly spaced relation by being projected through the cup and the plate and secured by nuts lit-I33 on opposite sides thereof.

At a suitable point above the top I20, a bridging member I connects and stiffens the post I32, the post passing through suitable perfumtions therein and the bridging member secured thereto by pins I35Il5 projected therethrough and through the posts. The bridging member n I34 has a pair of arms I36 projecting laterally therefrom toward the bottle I1 and formed to embrace the side of the bottle. When a bottle I1 is being put into place in inverted position, on the apparatus, and its lower open mouth end is inserted into the receptacle 6 and the bottle engages the packing I80, the bottle may be rocked toward the arms I36I36 and they will position it in vertical position without further care on the part of the operator.

Illustrated generally at I31 is a bottle clamp comprising spaced heads I33 and I39 connected by a vertical connecting element I40, the heads having aligned perforations by which the bottle clamp I31 is rotatably and vertically movable on the post I32. An arm I42 extends laterally from the upper head I39 and has mounted on the outer end thereof a rubber pad I43 disposable over the center of the bottle bottom.

The tops of the posts I32 and HI are connected by a preferably upwardly bent handle I44. The handle is clamped between nuts I45 and I46 threaded on the posts I32 and I respectively and nuts preferably acorn nuts I41I41 on the upper ends of the posts. The handle I44 is thus rigidly connected to the posts and to the casing top I23 and aflords a convenient scheme for transporting the apparatus by hand.

The lower side of the nut I46 has a skirt I43 depending therefrom and telescoped into a recess I49 in the head I39 and a coiled spring I50 telescoped on the post I32 abuts upon the bottom of the recess and upon the nut tending to resiliently force the bottle clamp I31 as a whole.

downwardly.

To operate the bottle clamp I31, the arm I42 or the connecting element I40 may be manually grasped and elevated on the post I32 against the tension of the spring I50 to elevate the pad I43 from the bottle and the clamp I31 may then be rotated on the post I32 to remove the pad I43 laterally from the bottle and the clamp I31 may then rest on the bridging member I34, the lower head I33 of the clamp engaging the bridging member. When the bottle has been replaced by a fresh or filled one, then by the reverse of the above operations, the pad I43 may be elevated and rotated around over the bottle and then will be depressed into pressure engagement with the bottle bottom by the spring I50.

Upon the other post I is mounted a conduit support I5I generally similar to the bottle clamp I31 comprising lower and upper heads I52 and I63 rotatable and longitudinally movable on the post I and connected by aflconnecting element I54, the lower head I52 adapted to rest on the bridging member I34. The upper head I53 has a recess I55 and the nut I46 has a skirt I56 telescoped thereinto and a spring I51 is disposed around the post MI and within the recess and skirt to exert resilient downward thrust on the conduit support I5I as a whole.

The conduit support I5I has two arms I58 and I59 projecting laterally respectively from the heads I52 and I 53 and having at their outer ends loops I60--I60 having large aligned perforations I63 therein through which a tubular portion I6I of the vapor conduit joined to the center of the dome I29 is telescoped. The tube I6I is rigidly clamped in the loops l60-I60 by bolts I62-I62, the perforations I63 opening into slots I64 in the arms to facilitate the clamping action.

compression of the spring I51, the flange I30 on the dome I29 will clear the upper edge of the large diameter portion I21 and then it may be rocked laterally on the post I4I to give free access to the interior of the receptacle 1 for the purposes hereinbefore described in connection with the other forms.

And when the dome is again rotated back into position over the receptacle 1, and the support I5I is released, the spring I51 will hold the dome firmly on the upper open end of the receptacle.

As will be clear from the foregoing description, in this form, the mounting means for the dome I 29 and for the bottle I1 may be operated separately and independently one of the other.

In the modification shown in Fig. 16, the bridging member I 34 on the head I65 thereof secured to the post I4 I, has an elevated surface I66 thereon. The under side of the head I52 of the conduit support I5I has a corresponding abutment I61 on its underside. When'the support I5I is in the position illustrated and described above in connection with Figs. 11 to 14, the abutment I61 and the surface I66 will occupy the position illustrated in Fig. 16. When, however, the support I5I is rotated as above described to remove the dome I29 laterally, the abutment I61 will be rotated around the post HI and will be disposed over and may rest upon the surface I66 to support the abutment in elevated position. To this end, the head I65 and the head I52 may be provided with mutually engageable inclined camming surfaces I69 and I69 which will assist in elevating the abutment I61 when the head I52 is rotated.

A like construction may be provided for the other support I31.

Having thus described our invention which is herein illustrated, we contemplate that numerous and extensive departures may be made from the embodiments herein illustrated and described, but without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We ciaim:

1. In an inhalator apparatus, a housing, a pair of spaced receptacles having upwardly open ends adjacent the top of said housing, the first of said receptacles adapted to receive a bottle reservoir in an inverted position to receive liquid therefrom, the second of said receptacles adapted to receive a vapor collector and discharge conduit, a medicant container suspended in the open end of said second receptacle, means for supplying liquid to said second receptacle from said first receptacle comprising a conduit extending in an upwardly inclined plane from said first receptacle to said second receptacle whereby a comparatively small volume of liquid is maintained in said second receptacle, electrical h( ring means associated with said second receptacle for vaporizing the liquid supplied thereto and'for heating the medicant container, and means for admitting air into said vapor collector to mix with the heated vapors therein.

2. The apparatus specified in claim 1 together with thermal responsive means to render the electrical heating means ineffective upon failure of the liquid supplying means.

a WILLIAM C. ROE.

MAYO E. ROE. 

